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Re: Are the two sentences contradictory?

My reading would be that sentence one indicates that you are late in placing an important order. Sentence two indicates that as a result of the delay, your company is unable to complete an order from a customer who is now taking his business elsewhere.

Re: Are the two sentences contradictory?

Searching for language: I get it!
The 'company' is a red-herring in all this. 'B' was placing an outside order for goods requested by a valued customer, who was kept waiting because 'B' was late with getting the order in.

Re: Are the two sentences contradictory?

Now you've lost me!

It's not the company's (C) fault that B was late in placing the order. If this order was for some customer of B's, then any delay in obtaining the goods is attributable to B's tardiness in ordering, not the supplier C.

Re: Are the two sentences contradictory?

I don't read it as saying that you placed your order late, but that they arrived at your own factory late.

Let's say you make cakes that are sold in restaurants. You need... I don't know... specialty extracts from Company A. You order, but company A has unreliable shipping, and the order arrives late at your factory. You almost miss delivering your week's worth of cakes to your best customers.

Now it's time to reorder. Your friend sees you have company A's catalog in your hand. "Hey, you order arrived late last time! Don't order from those guys! If they're late again, you may lose those customers for good this time!"